Honda Insight Reliability by Year
669 NHTSA complaints (2000–2022). Complaint rate: 98.3 per 1,000 vehicles.
Honda Insight reliability varies significantly by model year. Based on 669 NHTSA complaints (2000–2022), the most problematic years are 2010, 2019, with high complaint volumes linked to airbag malfunctions. Better choices include 2014, 2021, 2020, which show significantly fewer reported problems.
Why these years are worse
The most common issues driving the complaint spikes:
- airbag malfunctions — 121 complaints (16.5% involved a crash)
- engine problems — 89 complaints (1.1% involved a crash)
- electrical faults — 50 complaints (8.0% involved a crash)
- unknown or other — 41 complaints (7.3% involved a crash)
- brake failures — 39 complaints (35.9% involved a crash)
Which Years to Buy & Avoid
Years auto-clustered by complaint volume relative to this model's median.
Bottom line: Avoid the 2010 Honda Insight. The 2014 models had significantly fewer reported issues. Most common issue across all years: AIR BAGS.
Avoid These Years
Average
Better Years
A model's reputation is just the start.
Even within the “good” years, individual cars can have hidden accidents, title issues, or odometer rollbacks. Check the actual VIN before you buy — full history report for $4.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99).
Complaints by Model Year
NHTSA complaint count per model year
Common Honda Insight Problems
Most reported component complaints to NHTSA
| Component | Complaints | Crash % |
|---|---|---|
| AIR BAGS | 121 | 16.5% |
| ENGINE | 89 | 1.1% |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 50 | 8.0% |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 41 | 7.3% |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 39 | 35.9% |
| FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING | 35 | 11.4% |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | 25 | 0.0% |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 22 | 0.0% |
| POWER TRAIN | 21 | 23.8% |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 19 | 42.1% |
Year-by-Year Breakdown
NHTSA complaint count per model year — click any year for full problems & recalls breakdown.
| Year | Generation | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | — | 34 | 0 | — | View → |
| 2001GOOD | — | 17 | 0 | 2 | View → |
| 2002GOOD | — | 12 | 0 | — | View → |
| 2003GOOD | — | 6 | 0 | — | View → |
| 2004GOOD | — | 3 | 0 | — | View → |
| 2005GOOD | — | 2 | 0 | — | View → |
| 2006GOOD | — | 2 | 0 | — | View → |
| 2010AVOID | — | 154 | 40 | — | View → |
| 2011 | — | 50 | 6 | — | View → |
| 2012AVOID | — | 66 | 4 | — | View → |
| 2013AVOID | — | 63 | 4 | 5 | View → |
| 2014GOOD | — | 5 | 0 | — | View → |
| 2019AVOID | — | 125 | 21 | — | View → |
| 2020 | — | 47 | 4 | — | View → |
| 2021 | — | 34 | 1 | — | View → |
| 2022 | — | 49 | 0 | — | View → |
Year-by-Year Breakdown
Tap any year for full problems & recalls breakdown.
See also: Honda Insightaccident & safety statistics from our vehicle history database.
Buying a Honda Insight?
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